Collapsible runner



SePt- 18, 1934- P. J. S'ENTNER Er AL 1,974,163

COLLAPS IBLE RUNNER Filed March 7, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet l hllflllllflSept. 18, 1934. P, 5ENTNER ET AL 1,974,163

COLL APS IBLE RUNNER Filed March 7, 1932 2 sheets-snee: 2

` 5.0 wherein like characters Patented Sept. 18, 1934 PATENT OFFICE gCoLLAPsIBLE RUNNER Preston James Sentner and John Angus Weir,Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada Application March 7,

1932, Serial No. 597,394

4 claims. (c1. 28o-i1) Y This present invention relates to certain newand useful improvements in collapsible runners.

The primary object of the invention resides i in the provision ofcollapsible runners which are particularly designed for baby carriagesbut may be employed on various vehicles, aeroplanes and the like.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of collapsiblerunners of the character 'im stated which are of generally improved andsimplified construction and increased efficiency and it may be readilycollapsed beneath the body of the vehicle, aeroplane or the like or yextended for use, as desired.

The invention has for a still further object the provision ofcollapsible runners of the character stated which will be firmlysupported when in extended position and will be rmly locked againstaccidental collapsing.

' The invention has for a still further object the provision ofcollapsible runners of the character stated which may be readily mountedbeneath the baby carriage, other vehicle, aeroplane or the like withoutrequiring alterations in thefcon'struction thereof and which will notinterfere Ywith use of the wheels of the vehicle when thefrunners are incollapsed condition.

v A s till further object of the invention resides in the provision ofcollapsible runners of the '303 character stated which may be readilymanufacturedat small cost'and retailed at a popular price with good protor may be provided on new baby carriages or other vehicles, aeroplanes iand the like during manufacture thereof without materially increasingthe cost of production, thus providing a commercially attractiveproposition.

To the accomplishment of these and related 40, objects as shall becomeapparent as the description proceeds, the invention resides in theconstruction'conbination and arrangement of parts as shall behereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings and pointed out in the claims hereunto appended. y

The invention will be best understood and can be more clearly describedwhen reference is had to the drawings forming a part of this disclosureindicate like parts throughout the several views.

In the d.rawings:- Figure 1 is a side elevation of the collapsible'iliinners as provided for a baby carriage or the i e;

Figure 2 is a top plan view thereof;

Figure 3 is a transverse vertical section taken substantially ontheplane of line 3-3 of Figure 1, looking in the direction indicated by thearrows. 6

Figure 4 is a side elevation, showing the collapsible runners incollapsed condition;

Figure 5 is an enlarged detail section, taken substantially on the planeof line 5--5 of Figure 2, looking in the direction indicated by thearrows; and

Figure 6 is an enlarged detail section, taken substantially on the planeof line 6-6 of Figure 1, looking in the direction indicated by thearrows; 1.. 70.5%

Referring more in detail to the drawings, 'it is to be noted that thecollapsible runners include a pair of longitudinal runner members 11which preferably have their forward and rear ends 12 and 13respectively, curved slightly to prevent them from catching in the snowor ice as the baby carriage is moved forwardly or rearwardly. The runnermembers 11 are shown as being provided with central longitudinal ribs 14on their upper faces over which are pivoted the lower bifurcatedends 15of the forward and rear runner supporting standards 16 which have theirupper ends mounted on forward and' rear transverse rods 17 carried independing angular brackets 18 provided on the underface of therectangular mounting frame 19, at the corners thereof. 'I'hisrectangular mounting frame 19 is constructed from flat strips of metalor the like and may be readily secured to the underface of the' babycarriage axles 20, to the underface of a vehicle body, aeroplane or thelike or to any other appropriate underportion thereof, in any suitableand appropriate manner. The standl ards 16 are braced to the transverserods 17 b arcuate braces 21. 95i

A pair of toggle arms 22 are employed on each side to connect anintermediate portion of one of the runner members 11 with the rearcorner of the mounting frame 19 on that side of the structure. 'Ihelower arm of each pair of toggle 100 arms 22 has an offset lowerextremity 23 pivoted to the rib 14 of the runner member 11 and the upperend of the upper arm is pivote'd to a depending bracket 24 on theunderside of the mounting frame 19 near the rear corner there- 105 ofThe upper arm also has a laterally extended locking member 25 extendingacross the front edge of the lower arm, just below the pivotalconnection of the toggle arms 22 to lock them in alignment and preventrearward swinging of the toggle arms on the transverse pivot rod 26 forthe two pairs of toggle arms 22. The angularly extended rear ends 27 offorwardly converging rods 28 are mounted on the rod 26 while theforwardly directed forward ends 29 of the converging rods 28 are mountedon the releasing rod 31 by a pivot pin 30, the rods 28 being inclinedforwardly. The releasing rodl extends;longitudinally beneath ,thecentenof the mounting frame 19 and is slidable through guides 32depending from the forward and rear ends of the mounting frame 19. Thereleasing rod 31 having a head or knob 38 on itsnprojecting rear end andan upwardly offset-portion'-34 a short distance from its .rear -end.VThe IQd 31 is resiliently maintained in-.tsfrearpositiongby the spring35 encircling the forward ,portion thereof with the rear end 'of thespring '135- fastened on the rod 31 while the forward end of the spring35 bears against the inner face of the front.guidef32fnrthefrodzl.Pivotedfon the rib Letof each-@runner member 11 :between the vlower tend@23 of :the toggle :arms 22 and the bifurcated lower end 15 of ithe:forward standards 16 is a link 36 through whichis engaged :the turnedback lower extremity :87 fof a bowed leaf-spring 38. )The upper'end `of:the bowed leaf s :spring 53,8 has irmlyzfastened thereon .fthe forwardsend f of a substantially straight spring ibar:.3.9 awhich1slidesthrough ,a bracket 40 mounted on and depending from thezlongitudinalaside .member o'f i the mounting `tframe A-l 19, the;v rearfgextremity41 ofthe fstraight: spring bar 39 being turnedtundenand curved forwardlyin the form of a hook. Supported in the bracket 40, beneath thestraightfspring :bar 239 1istthe arcuate-stop 42; slightlyinclinedrearwardly with its :c onveXffaoe opposedto ,the underfaceffof@the straight springhar -;39, thefends e3 por" the arcuate stop A2:being turned -aaround :pins 444 f extended tr;ansv ers ely through :theforward and rear lower corners sof inthe :bracket 41110. This arcuatestop f l2 serves to limitforward sliding movementpffztheflat;spring;bar391 inthe;- bracket e0.

.5A-s :the fconstruction :of the :device has thus beendescribedinfdetail brief :referenceis now had to its 'E use aand :modusfoperfandt 11W-hen ythe runnen/members l l are `in rpositionzfor ruse,`'the ro'd 31 is in its rearward position, the :pairsof togglerarms 22:are locked inatherrearwardly; inclinediposition, :thefstandards 1:6:arezslightlyiinclined irearwardly,11the straight 1- lspring iA b ar :39e is drawn :forwardly and :the bowed fleaf spring r 38 iis-runder:tension in its fully Vbowed condition. When it iis desired -to 4collapse the .runners, it is `:simply necessary Ito f'force :fthe rod`1.31 forwardly, `zthus; opening: the f, pairs of vttoggleeiarms 2 2 bydrawing :,thexrojd;32 6 forwardlyv throughf the medium of the rods 28.This also :results iin compressing .and placing Aunder 4,tension thespring 3 5'. :Whenzthe itogglexarmsf22--are thus opened zand the lockingmember i 25 "drawn forwardly,f;the springs 38 immediately -i'function toswing the :runner members `ll-.and parts yconnected directly Vtherewithrearwardly vkand .upwardly :beneath :the :mounting frame 19, the springs:3 8 assuming :positions :nearly :parallel with 'the` straight. spring:bars: 39. ".'I'o again eX- tendth-e: runnen-members; 11 to,functioning. position :b eneathftheprnounting fframe 1.9 all ,that isrequired iis :to .press 4dow nwardlv o-n the -rear errd113 ofnonexof the:runnen-members 11 until the;;pairs of togglefarms-i22 farei returnedto'their rearwardly; inclined and locked positions, and: the

:could be made in the above description and many apparently widelydifferent embodiments @four-invention may be constructed within the-SCQDS'Q ,the ,ppendedfclaims without departing 90 -fromfithesspirit orssoope thereof, it is intended that all matters contained in the saidaccom- `panying:specification-:and drawings shall be in- .,terpreted asillustrative and not in a limitative or restrictive sense.

`Having thus described 'nur invention, -what is claime d;is:-

-1.- Collapsible runners including a ,mounting frame for attachmentftoqababy carriagasaeroplane orv other-vehicle; depending standardspi-votedtto said mounting if rame; `runner members pivoted on said standards;locking toggle gar-ms extended betweensaidmounting frame and.q saidrunner members; xa releasing rod sl-idable beneath .said :mounting vfr-ame; fmeans connected I6! with grand operated 4by,-saidfreleasir-rg-rod ato un lock .said toggle arms; means -to `lresilently :jretain,said ,releasing :rod ,in unoperated position; tensioned means for icollapsing said runner members, v:said standards and said Qtogggle:,arm's IIB beneath :said mounting frame --when :said .releasing rod isoperated; :and guidermeans :for :the last mentioned means. g

2. Collapsible runners Aincluding --a :mounting frame; pairs-ofstandards depending from Asaid if# mounting frame ,and pivoted thereto;eonnecting and bracing means for said--istandards runner members :havinglongitudinal ribs; said standards being ,pivoted fto :said ribs; lockingrearwardlyginclined toggle zarmsf-connecting-:the 1mintermediateportions of :said ribs ,with .the rea-r corners of ;saidmounting frame; each pai-r of toggle-farms being normallydocked-vwiththe-arms in sal-ignmentL-a releasing rod for-said-pairs of toggle A armsTsl-idalole longitudinally beneath said ,IM mounting frame;guidingimeanstfor-.saidfro means 1 to normally maintain .sa-idVreleasing frod infunoperated-j position; `iand means mounted` on saidYribs `-and .gslidable beneath vbsaid mounting frame .andnormally under,tension, to, cause, collapsing of said, runner members, said standardsand said toggle arms toward the under-sidebf said mounting framewhenthefsaid.releasing rod is operated.

3. Collapsible runners `including a -mounting13,5 frame for attachmentto a vehicle, ldepending standards pivoted to said mounting frame at oneend, yrunner members pivotedito saidtandards rat their vother ends,locking toggle `arms connecting the runner lmembers and the-mountingframe and adapted when in extended position i to vmaintainv the runnermembers in tfunctioning position, a :releasing rod -slidable -beneath`=the mounting frame, means 4connected with; and, operatedby Asaidreleasingrodfto unlock the toggle armsxtoipermit:thefrunnenmembers to beraised into nonfunctioning position, means-:togresiliently retain thefreleasing rod 41in unoperated position, and :tension :mea-ns :effectiveonly after operation of the releasing rodffor 258 by said releasing rodto unlock the toggle arms to permit the runner members to be raised intonon-functioning position, means to resiliently retain the releasing rodin unoperated position, tension means eiective only after operation ofthe releasing rod for collapsing said runner members, standards andtoggle arms beneath said mounting frame, and guide means for saidtension means.

JOHN ANGUS WEIR.. [L.S.] PRESTON JAMES SENTNER. [1.. SJ

